Gold’n Plump Farms penalized for operating equipment without a permit

Brainerd, Minn. ― Gold’n Plump Farms recently installed and operated a new boiler and pelletizing equipment, but did so without first having the proper permit in hand. After discovering this violation, company officials shut down the equipment and notified the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The company and the MPCA have negotiated a stipulated penalty of $10,000, for installing and operating the equipment without a permit.

Gold’n Plump Farms produces poultry feed pellets used to feed chickens throughout central Minnesota. According to MPCA documents, the company applied for an air emissions permit in January, and again in April, but both times the MPCA notified them that the applications were incomplete and could not be processed. The company began running the equipment in May but shut it down shortly after realizing they were in violation and notified the MPCA of the situation.

In addition to paying the $10,000 penalty, Gold’n Plump farms must submit the proper permit application.

When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. It also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, refer to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us.